3 minute read
BOB HAWKE WOULD BE TURNING IN HIS GRAVE
from Hotel SA Feb 2025
by Boylen
As a News Corporation journalist once pointed out:
"Bob Hawke famously set the world record for sculling a yard of beer in 1954 – putting away 2.5 pints of ale in 11 seconds – and later remarked this feat, and his penchant for a drink, helped to endear him to the Australian public. Australians love beer and our politicians love posing with it."
How true!
The issue of beer excise is just one of the key concerns that the AHA|SA has taken to Canberra for many years – but now we are in over-drive as campaigning for the Federal election hots up.
Much of this issue is devoted to those issues, so I won’t list them here. However, I would urge you to read the viewpoints of the AHA|SA Councillors – all of them hotel owners and senior managers – who have contributed their experience and insight.
The issues we are talking about – skills shortages, rising costs etc – have galvanised our sector.
Never before have I seen the entire industry, from family-owned businesses to large operators, all grappling with the same issues.
Our ongoing member profiles on social media are a perfect and consistent example of what they deal with day to day.
It is significant to hear members, independently of one
another, highlight the same concerns. This is more proof that these are not isolated problems but sectorwide issues that must be addressed by policymakers.
This election presents an incredible opportunity for political parties to step up and fix some of these longstanding issues once and for all. It’s time for decisive action, not just empty promises.
OUR COLLECTIVE VOICE
In his column, David Basheer has sounded a rallying call to members to use every opportunity to push the AHA's position when they have politicians in their venues.
I couldn't agree more.
Politicians of all colours love having their photos taken in our pubs. They realise that it resonates with communities and the average person.
So, there’s no such thing as a free lunch (or a free beer). If pollies are in your pub, please urge them to take our message to Canberra.
WHAT WOULD BOB SAY?
I started by quoting Bob Hawke and I will conclude on the same theme.
The beer excise – a biannual tax hike – was ironically introduced by Bob Hawke in 1983. But it has now reached the point where the cost of a pint is pricing everyday Australians out of having a social drink in a local hotel.
One can only wonder what Hawke - perhaps Australia's most famous beer lover - would think about the price of a beer?
I think he would be horrified.
Having a beer at the pub with mates, once the cornerstone of Australian social life, is becoming a luxury.
And that is simply un-Australian.
Hawke famously set the world record for sculling a yard of beer in 1954 –putting away 2.5 pints of ale in 11 seconds – and later remarked this feat, and his penchant for a drink, helped to endear him to the Australian public. Australians love beer and our politicians love posing with it.
